Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-06-01
A LIFE LOST ON A BET
MpoNoueH DROWNED ATTEMPTING
10 SWIM ACROSS TIE DOCK.
A Nan Who Wants His rrswess Risks
His Life for Four Drinks,
and Loses.

The dead body OF Tom McDonough, a
swimmer OF some little note here, was
dragged from the bottom OF the dock be-
tween Seventeenth and Eighteenth streets
at an carly hour yesterday morning. The
night before Tom was In the bar.room OF
Peter Nardini, at the northwest corner OF
Eighteenth and Cary streets, and was
making boast OF his prowess, when some
one bet him four drinks OF whiskey that
be could not swim across the dock and
back. The challenge was accepted,
and Nardini, McDcnough, and three
colored women and one or two
others who were present when the
conversation took place went down
to the dock. There on the bank OPP
posite Mr.. j. G. Smiths warehouse Me-
Donough threw of most OF his clothes and
sprang into the water. The distance he
proposed to swim was about 200 yards; the
dock at that point being about three hum
dred feet wide. McDonough was probably
200 feet from the shore when, without any
OutcIy, he sank beneath the water and was
seen no more.
NO JOKE.
The spectators for little while were un.
der the impression that McDonough had
diyed into the stream intending TO re-
appear In the shadow OF some vessel and
play them trick. but soon this impression
was removed, and they set TO work search
ing for the body, but without result until
between 8 and O'Clock yesterday morn-
ing, when Mr. Harvey Dunn caught ii with
grappling.irons and brought ii TO the sur.
face.
ASHORE.
The body was laid on the south side OF
the dock, where 1t was viewed by Coroner
Taylor.
The Coroner examined two OF the cOlored
women who were present when Melon
ough undertook the feat. They said thu
the bet was for four drinks OF whiskey,
though there was a rumor that 1t was not
for the drinks, but for ten cents that Nc.
DonOugh undertook the performance that
cost him his life.
These women said that deceased was
drInky, but could walk quite well, and, in
addition, they alleged that they had begged
him not 10 go into the water at all.
BY some 1t is thought that McOonough
was seized with cramps; by others that he
struck his head against an anchor which
was hanging over the side OF vessel and
nearly reaching the water close to where
be passed, but it is far more probable that
he was too drunk to swim.
There was no wound or bruise on his
head or elsewhere to indicate that he had
struck against anything.
IL McDonough had been in good condi-
ton the swim would have been an easy one
for him.
Mr.. NARDINI's ACCOUNT.
Mr.. Nardini was seen by Dispatch re.
porter last night. He utterly denied that
be had induced McDonough to make the
fatal venture. He said, further, that the
bet was not with him (Nardlni), but " with
a sailor man." the name OF whom he could
not give. There were, he stated, quite
number OF people in the bar at the time,
and the conversation turning upon SWIM
ming, McDonough threw off his coat and
declared that he "wOuld bet four drinks
that he could swim across the dock" The
bet beng taken, the whole party went
down TO the dock, where McDOnough pro-
ceeded to enter upon his exploit.
DECEASED.
McDonough's brother was in Nardinps
bar last night and heard the above state.
his life -" that had Tom been sober he
(deceased) could have swum dozen times
that distance. He seemed to attach blame
to no oge indeed, he said that it all came
from Toms foolishness.
The dead man was twenty.siX years OF
age and was born in England and lived
with lis mother on Main street between
Nineteenth and Twentieth. His father was
killed on Broad street some years ago by
the caying.in Of an embankment where he
was at work.
McDonough's brother is OF the opinion
that deceased only attempted to swim acro>.
the dock-not across and back-and in
proof Of it says that some person had car
ried deceased's clothes to the south side Of
the dock there to meet him. That was
about l0:30 at night.
The Coroner has placed all the facts OF
the case in the possession Of the Police
Justice for such action as he may consider
proper.